Why are all AI assistants feminised?
Ever wondered why Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant all answer our beck and call in sweet dulcet tones? The female gendering of AI technology is pervasive and largely unquestioned – but does it enforce damaging stereotypes? Rather disconcertingly, AI assistants are now an omnipotent presence in day-to-day life. Whether you...
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Ethereum crypto moves to cut its CO2 output by 99%
Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency, has finally moved to a ‘proof of stake’ system. This means the carbon emissions associated with mining its coins could be cut by 99%. While environmentalists are staunchly anti-crypto at the moment, Ethereum has shown that the industry can shed its problematic link to fossil...
Co-Op faces legal issues over facial recognition technology
The Big Brother Watch is accusing shopping chain Co-Op of misusing facial recognition technology in ‘Orwellian’ policy that matches shoppers against a database without their consent. Are you a frequent Co-Op shopper? It’s likely you’ve been inputted into a database via facial recognition technology. Big Brother Watch has sent an...
Could futuristic tech help to end China’s record droughts?
China, renowned for being first with technological advancements, is exploring cloud seeding, GM crops, and a multibillion-dollar water transfer project to address its severe drought problem. Following an unprecedented 2-month heatwave, China is being forced to show its mettle as a leading innovator to survive record water shortages. Between mid-June and...
100% hydrogen passenger trains are up and running in Germany
A regional train operator in Germany has become the first rail company to utilise 100% hydrogen fuel cells. Could Alstom quickly become trailblazers for a cleaner industry? While diesel locomotives continue to spew toxic nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, a regional train operator in Germany is releasing purely water vapour. That’s...
Michigan researchers develop transparent solar powered windows
A team of researchers at Michigan State University have just developed the world’s first fully transparent solar window. Is this the beginning of a more self-sufficient future for modern cities? Imagine a future where the light shining in through our windows actively powers our bulbs when the sun goes down....
NASA plans to send swimming robots to habitable ocean worlds
Most nearby planets thought to be habitable are completely covered in water. With many taking years to get to, NASA has secured funding for a project that will help us get a look into their depths. As humans come to grips with the possibility of one day living on another planet, whether willingly or out of necessity, space experts are wasting no time trying to locate our options. Mars is –...
Could GreenForges’ underground farms solve agriculture’s space issue?
Already taking up 11% of the Earth’s surface, the agriculture industry is running out of space to keep up with growing food demands. While most innovators are looking to fix the issue with vertical farming solutions, GreenForges is utilising the ground beneath our feet. When delving into growth projections for vertical farming, it turns out the sky actually does have its limits. The agriculture industry has constantly battled against a dwindling...
Future trains could utilise carbon capture on wheels
Trains of the future could scrub the air of carbon dioxide rather than pumping it out of their smokestacks. The new concept, outlined in science journal Joule, could reportedly capture emissions for less than $50 USD per ton. As it stands, the only thing we’re on track for is dangerous levels of climate warming. A recent consensus among environmental scientists, is that transitioning away from pollutant industry practices will not be...
How a forensic spray is keeping women safe
SmartWater – a technology that was originally designed to catch burglars and thieves – is being used by victims of domestic abuse, allowing police to prosecute harassers for restraining order breaches. In the last year, around 2.3 million people in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse, with around one in five of the UK’s reported homicides during that time allegedly related to this form of violence specifically. The issue...
